Arts Center's Future Awaits Vote

HOLLYWOOD — The City Commission is expected to vote today on a proposal that could position the Hollywood Art and Culture Center as South Broward's most prominent cultural institution.

The proposal, part of City Manager Sam Finz's plans to reshuffle his administration, would turn over half the parks department's $500,000 yearly arts budget to the center and create a joint public-private arts program.

The center would use the money primarily to book shows at the Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center, an underused 500-seat theater just south of Young Circle. The center also would add events around the city's schedule for the Young Circle Bandshell.

"Hollywood is progressive in its support of the arts, but the city wants a better return on its arts money," said Cynthia Miller, executive director of the Art and Culture Center.

Miller and David Flaherty, director of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department, are enthusiastic about the potential to triple or quadruple the city's arts calendar within a year or two.

The neighborhood surrounding Young Circle along Hollywood Boulevard, Harrison Street and U.S. 1 is rebounding as a commercial entertainment district. But years of effort by the city and its Community Redevelopment Agency to sustain a resident artists' colony and performing arts groups have been largely unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Art and Culture Center emerged from a mid-'90s controversy, dumping its grass-roots community center persona to become an aggressive visual and performing arts organization. Its budget rose from $270,000 in 1997 to $1.2 million this year. The center also is completing the paperwork for a merger with the Hollywood Playhouse, with its own $700,000 budget. Long-term plans are for a joint complex at the hub of a model urban arts district around Young Circle.

Last year, the center and parks department launched Ocean Dance, free beach concerts that drew 20,000. This year's event on May 27 is headlined by Mikhail Baryshnikov and his White Oak Dance Project, and is expected to draw 50,000.

"The city can budget a certain amount for the arts, but it can't raise money," Miller said. "As a nonprofit cultural organization, we can seek matching donations and grants. We should be able to increase the proposed program budget from the $260,000 from the city to over $1 million in a short time."

The parks department will continue to manage daily operations at the Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center theater, as well as sponsor outdoor events such as the annual jazz and Seven Lively Arts festivals.

"We want to make it clear that we're not reducing the facilities' availability to local groups," Flaherty said. "The city will still control management in coordination with the school district. School programming is our first priority for the theater."